GEELY XINGYUAN PRODUCTION HITS 1 MILLION
Geely has produced its millionth Xingyuan just over two years after launch, although Chinese retail sales fell 9.6% to 310,391 in the first nine months of 2026. The affordable electric hatchback, priced from 61,800 yuan ($9,300) with up to 480 kilometres of CLTC range, is now sold in more than 30 countries as the E2 or EX2, with Brazilian production scheduled to begin in December.
FIREFLY PLANS 60 KWH BATTERY WITH OWNER UPGRADES
Nio's Firefly brand plans to introduce a 60 kWh CATL battery on 23 October, increasing CLTC range from 420 to 560 kilometres while allowing existing owners to upgrade through compatible fifth-generation Nio battery-swapping stations. The upgrade could benefit owners of the 90,000 Firefly vehicles already delivered, although battery pricing, rental terms and the limited availability of compatible swapping stations will determine its appeal.
BYD BRINGS FLASH CHARGING TO THE SEAGULL
BYD has launched its second-generation Seagull electric hatchback from 65,900 yuan ($9,900), with Flash Charging versions starting at 75,900 yuan ($11,400) capable of charging from 10% to 70% in five minutes at dedicated stations. The redesigned car introduces rear-wheel drive, independent rear suspension, five seats and up to 420 kilometres of CLTC range, as BYD attempts to reverse a 33% sales decline in the first nine months of 2026.
NIO GROUP CLAIMS QUARTERLY LEAD OVER GERMAN RIVALS
Nio claims its three brands collectively outsold BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi individually in China during the third quarter, citing 111,638 insurance registrations across Nio, Onvo and Firefly compared with 107,210 for BMW and Mini. BMW separately reported 114,355 deliveries using a different measurement, but Nio's expanding portfolio illustrates the growing competitive pressure on German premium manufacturers as China's luxury-car retail market contracted 29% in September.
XIAOMI REGISTERS SU9 LUX NAME
Xiaomi has registered the SU9 LUX trademark, fuelling speculation about a larger luxury saloon with additional rear-passenger space, potentially related to camouflaged vehicles previously identified as the SU7L. However, Xiaomi also registered SU7 LUX and has not confirmed either production name or its connection to the test vehicles, leaving the proposed model's identity and specifications uncertain.
FANGCHENGBAO SALES PASS 600,000
BYD's Fangchengbao brand has surpassed 600,000 cumulative vehicle sales, with September deliveries reaching 43,181, up 79% year-on-year, largely driven by the Titanium 7 family SUV. The brand is expanding beyond its off-road origins with the Formula S electric saloon and Formula S GT estate, priced from 189,900 and 219,900 yuan respectively, although their combined first-month deliveries of 663 show the challenge of entering the premium passenger-car market.
BYD AND LI AUTO EXPAND GULF SALES
BYD is expanding its Saudi Arabian dealership network towards 10 locations, while Li Auto has introduced its L9 in the UAE with adaptations for extreme heat, local charging systems and Arabic-language functionality. Limited charging infrastructure remains a constraint, with Saudi operator EVIQ reporting 134 chargers across 56 locations against its ambition of more than 5,000 by 2030, favouring plug-in hybrids and range-extenders during the market's development.
CHERY TAKES EXLANTIX TO AUSTRALIA IN 2027
Chery plans to introduce its premium Exlantix brand in Australia around mid-2027 with the ES GT electric shooting brake and ET large SUV, both already demonstrated in right-hand-drive form. The ES GT is expected to feature an 800-volt architecture, while the ET is available overseas in electric and range-extended forms, with expansion into New Zealand and the UK also planned as Chery targets higher-priced international markets.
CHINESE EV FIRMS EXPAND EUROPEAN PRODUCTION
Chinese EV and battery manufacturers reportedly have 26 factories operating or under construction across Europe, including BYD's Hungarian vehicle plant, CATL's planned 100 GWh Hungarian battery complex and its 50 GWh joint venture with Stellantis in Spain. Local manufacturing could help Chinese carmakers avoid tariffs on China-origin vehicles and establish European supply chains, while the EU is investing €1.5 billion in loans to support competing domestic battery-cell production.
HUAWEI CAR UNIT JOINS CATL BATTERY SWAP NETWORK
Huawei's automotive technology business Newcool has joined CATL's Choco battery-swapping ecosystem, with plans to combine battery-condition monitoring, journey predictions and assisted-driving technology to automate swaps that CATL claims take 99 seconds. CATL reported 2,520 swapping stations across 200 Chinese cities by late September and is expanding into highway locations and 800-volt batteries, although compatible Huawei-equipped vehicles and a service launch date remain unannounced.
CHERY GETS APPROVAL FOR ELECTRIC MOPED
Chery has received Chinese regulatory approval for an electric step-through moped, extending its ambitions beyond passenger vehicles alongside a range-extended motorcycle and an electric adventure scooter claiming 150–200 kilometres of range. China's electric motorcycle sales increased 13.1% in the first eight months of 2026, but with the 10 largest suppliers controlling nearly 94% of covered sales, Chery faces substantial competition from established two-wheeler manufacturers.
